Extended Stays and Remote Work Opportunities

Under this fresh system, foreigners who meet specific requirements will be eligible to stay in Japan for a maximum of six months. These requirements include maintaining an annual income of at least 10 million yen and fulfilling conditions relevant to specified activities. Furthermore, the system allows family members to accompany the primary visa holder, with the aspiration that foreign individuals possessing valuable expertise will choose to reside in Japan, ultimately contributing to the local economy.

The key components of this new residency system, introduced by the Immigration and Residence Office, revolve around the following requirements:

1.Annual income must be a minimum of 10 million yen.
2.The individual should be a national of one of the approximately 50 countries/regions eligible to enter Japan without a visa.
3.Enrolment in a private medical insurance plan is mandatory.

Foreign individuals who meet these criteria are granted the status of residence for “Designated activities” and are permitted a six-month stay in Japan. This system is also applicable to independent entrepreneurs conducting business abroad. Additionally, they are allowed to bring family members who have private medical insurance coverage.

Digital nomads represent a global trend, and several other countries have introduced similar systems to accommodate them. As part of the specific timeline for this initiative, public comments will be accepted starting from March, and the scheme’s implementation is anticipated to commence next month. It has been disclosed that Japan is actively considering this new system as a part of its strategy to embrace international remote workers, and significant progress is being made toward its implementation.

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Koji Kitada
Certified real estate agent